The analysis and comparison of detective activity in Slovenia, Germany and United States of America

Detektivska dejavnost je v Sloveniji urejena z Zakonom o detektivski dejavnosti (2011), v katerem je na enem mestu strnjen celosten nabor pravic, dolžnosti, upravičenj in omejitev detektiva in predpisano obvezno usposabljanje kandidatov za detektive pred pridobitvijo licence. Usposabljanje, bodisi obvezno ali neobvezno, je pomembno za delo detektiva, vendar pa je za uspešnost detektivskega dela bistveno, da je zastavljeno smiselno in temelji tudi na zadostnem praktičnem delu, pri katerem si posameznik pridobiva izkušnje iz stvarnih primerov. Kljub temu da se v izbranih državah razlikujejo zahteve za pridobitev licence, predpisano usposabljanje, pa tudi nabor upravičenj, je skupno vsem, da vsa upravičenja niso rezervirana za uporabo zgolj detektivom, temveč lahko nekatera uporablja prav vsak, ki želi potešiti svojo raziskovalno žilico. Detektivi v Nemčiji, Sloveniji in ZDA po enakih standardih razlikujejo zaseben prostor od javnega, kjer lahko pod določenimi pogoji uporabljajo nekatera upravičenja. Vendar pa z vidika posega v pravico do zasebnosti ugotovimo, da se le-ta v Sloveniji in Nemčiji obravnava kot zavarovana temeljna človekova pravica, medtem ko je pravica do zasebnosti v ZDA precej bolj ohlapno zajeta in dopušča detektivom po evropskih standardih nekatere nedopustne možnosti. Kljub razlikam v velikosti držav, njihovi gospodarski moči in izkušenosti na področju detektivske dejavnosti se Slovenija z najkrajšo zgodovino detektivstva brez dvoma lahko pohvali z zavidljivo zakonsko ureditvijo detektivske dejavnosti. Vendar pa se na področju usposabljanja in upravičenj detektiva porajajo dvomi o učinkovitosti in smiselnosti ter težijo k dopolnitvam in korekcijam. S tem pa se lahko detektivska dejavnost postavi še na višjo raven in morebiti detektivi sčasoma zavzamejo višji položaj v družbi.Private detective activity in Slovenia is regulated by Private Detective Act (2011) which defines the rights, obligations, entitlements and restrictions of a detective, as well as imposes a mandatory training for each candidate before acquiring a detective licence. The training procedure, whether made compulsory or not, represents an important part of detective’s work. Hence, it is vital that all its elements are pertinent and based on using their skills in practice as much as possible, since that is how individuals gain most experience in dealing with real cases. The chosen countries may differentiate in their requirements for obtaining a licence, the training procedure and in their range of entitlementshowever, certain rights are not reserved for the particular use of detectives only, but also for anyone else who wishes to sate their thirst for detective work. The same standards of differentiation between private and public spaces, where particular entitlements can be enforced under certain conditions, are used in Germany, Slovenia and in the USA. However, in the two former countries respectively the right to privacy is recognised as a fundamental right of citizens, whilst in the USA, the right to privacy is a much broader and looser construct and therefore warrants action that would be considered unlawful by the European standards. Despite the difference in size of the countries, their economic power and experience in the field of detective work, and despite its shortest presence in the field, Slovenia could undoubtedly be commended on its enviable regulation on private detective activity. However, some doubts have been raised concerning training procedure and detectives’ entitlements, particularly regarding their effectiveness and viabilitytherefore, corrections and complements should be pursued. Thus, detective work could reach an even higher level of quality and, with time, detectives might even earn a greater position in society